Apparatus for timing watches



Feb. 1, 1944'. A. J. UBLE '2;2.4o,575

APPARATUS FOR TIMING WATCHES Filed Aug. 3. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In ventor /rf/1ur Jay AMb/e Aiiomey Feb. 1, 1944.

APPARATUS FOR TIMING WATCHES Filed Aug 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. J. AUBLE 2,340,575

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A iiomey Patented Feb. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,340,575 APPARATUS FOR TIMING WATCHES Arthur Jay Auble, rd, Nebr. Application August a, 1940, Serial No. 350,834

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in an apparatus for timing watch movements relative to a master chronometer, and the primary objects in view is to provide a simple and efficient apparatus which greatly simplifies'and speeds up accurate regulating of watch movements.

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general front elevational view of an apparatus or system of this character.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the watch movement holder and loud speaker.

Figure 3 is a right hand side elevational view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the watch movement clamp.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the escapement wheel and escapement lever of the master watch or chronometer and showing the electrical contacts and connections therein involved.

Figure 6 is an edge elevational view of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the escape wheel and escapement lever mechanism of a watch movement to be tested and showing the electrical contact arrangements therein involved.

Figure 8 is an edge elevational view of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical association of the master chronometer and compared watch movement contacts and their connections with the loud speaker and the source of electrical energy.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a suitable casing for containing a battery 6 and having on the front wall thereof a hook I over which is passed the ring 8 on the master watch or chronometer 9. One terminal [8 of the said battery has connected thereto a wire H which leads through the side of the casing of the master watch 9 and is suitably connected to a banking pin [2 adapted to form a part of the escapement of said master watch and to be engaged by the escapement lever under movement thereof inone direction the escapement lever IS. The escapement lever i3 is operated by the escapement or escape wheel M. The banking pin [2 which is screwed into the plate of the watch has thereby electrical connection with the plate through the plate with the wire II. The remaining terminal I! of the said battery is connected by a wire [8 to one terminal 19 of the loud speaker 20 which has trunnions 2! connecting into the upper ends of a semi-circular bracket 22 which rises from the upper end of a pedestal 23 whose lower end is connected to the approximate middle of the three-quarter circular base 24 which like the casing 5 is adapted to rest on a supporting surface 25. The remaining terminal 2% of the loud speaker is connected by the "wire 21 with the wire 28 which is electrically connected in a manner presently described to the escapement lever of the compared watch movement 29 while the compared watch movement is being tested.

Rising from the top of one horn of the threequarter circular base 24 is the vertical arm 30 of insulation material whose upper part is traversed by the bolt l5 of the watch clamp I6. The watch clamp comprises a substantially threequarter circular spring metal band 3| whose approximate center is traversed by the bolt 15 and which has radially inwardly extending arms 32 and 33 of triangular shape and provided on the hypotenuse side thereof with steps 34 to accommodate different sized watch movements in conjunction with the similarly formed arm 35 positioned in extension of the bolt l5 as illustrated in-Figure 4.

Supported to extend forwardly from the region of the arm 35 and bolt l5 is the non-conductive arm 36 through which extends at right angles and also in a horizontal position the conductive wire 28 already mentioned. The wire 28 has adjacent its free end a sleeve 31 to which is connected the forward end of a small gauge springwire coil 38 whose opposite end electrically engages the pivot 39 of the escapement lever l3a of the compared watch movement being regulated. The expansion of the coil 38 presses its terminal point sufliciently into engagement with the escapement lever pivot 39 to make adequate electrical connection. The sleeve 31 is adjustable along the conductive wire 28 to enable properly positioning the spring 38. As shown in Figure 8, the upper and. lower pivots of the lever 13a are insulated at 40 and 4|, respectively, by their plate jewels.

Referring now to the master watch contact arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6, it is to be noted that on the oppositeside of the escapement lever I3 is a second contact 42 which like the contact I2 is in the nature of a banking pin, with the escapement lever swinging between these contacts and at the end of its opposite strokes to engage the corresponding one of these contacts. pivots of the lever I3 are insulated as indicated by the numerals 43 and 44, respectively, from the master watch movement. It is also to be observed with respect to the contact 42, the banking pin such as constitutes the contact I2 is removed, and in its place is inserted a roller jewel 45 so that the engagement of the lever with it makes no electrical connection such as takes place when the lever engages the contact I2. A hair spring 46 is circumposed on the lever staff 41 below the lever I3 and has one end thereof connected to the said staif and the. other end thereof to the wire I4 which leaves the watch movement without electrical contact therewith.

In the compared watch contact arrangement shown in Figures 7 and 8 the contact I2a is insulated from the watch movement by a suitable insulating preparation painted on it, so that the engagement of the escapement lever I3a with it produces no electrical connection. The lower contact 42a is uninsulated, so that electrical connection is made when the lever i3a engage the banking pin 42a.

Referring now to Figure 9, it will be apparent that the wire I4 leading from the hair spring 46 on the master watch movement leads to the contact 42a of the compared watch movement, while the wire 27 leads from the spiral spring 38 of the compared watch movement to the terminal 26 of the loud speaker, the remaining side of the loud speaker being connected by the wire I8 as already explained, with one terminal of the battery 6, whose remaining side is connected to the contact I2 of the master watch contact arrangement.

It is obvious that the current coming from the battery passes to the plate of the master watch movement to the contact I2 and to the lever I3 of the master watch movement when the lever I3 engages the contact I2, the current then passing by the wire I4 to the compared watch movement, passing through the plate or frame of the movement and to the contact 42a and thence via the wire 21 to the loud speaker 25)- whose remaining side is connected to the battery 6. It is also obvious that different combinations of positions of the levers I3 and I3a, with resultant engagements with the respective contacts I2 and I la, at diiferent times and at different intervals, will produce correspondingly different signals in the loud speaker 26. Because of the arrangement, a variation of from /200 to /500 of a second may be detected between the compared watch and the master watch or chronometer.

, If /100 of a second is the normal length of time It is also to be observed that the apart.

that the escapement levers I3, I31; of the watches are in engagement with their respective banking pin contacts, the maximum period of time between making and breaking the loud speaker circuit would be of a second and would occur when the two levers were exactly in phase. Such making and breaking of the circuit would produce two clicks in the loud speaker spaced /100 of a second apart. These two clicks would be followed by a period of silence until the levers I3, I3a again made con tact with their respective banking pin contacts. If the two watches were running at exactly the same rate, two more loud speaker clicks spaced apart /100 of a second would again be produced. If the watch being compared were gaining or losing, the levers I3, I3a would not return to their respective banking pin contacts at exactly the same instant, the period during which they were both in contact with the banking pin contacts would decrease and the loud speaker clicks would be spaced less than 100 of a second This period would decrease until one lever was lagging more than /100 of a second behind the'other lever, at which time one lever would leave its banking pin contact before the other arrived and no loud speaker clicks would be; produced. There would then follow a relatively long period of silence until one lever gained substantially a complete cycle on the other, at which time another series of two closely spaced clicks would again be produced.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not wish to limit the application of the invention thereto, except as may be required by the scope of subjoined claim.

Having described the claimed as new is:

A system for timing watches comprising a master watch, a pair of electrical terminals connected to said master watch, means for momentarily electrically connecting said terminals in response to each oscillation of the escapement lever of said watch, a pair of electrical terminals for connection to, a test watch, means for momentarily electrically connecting said test watch terminals in response to each oscillation of the escapement lever of said test watch, a source of electrical energy, an electrical signal device and means for connecting said test watch terminals in series with said master watch terminals, said source of electrical energy and said signal device, whereby the circuit is completed through said signal device only when the escapement levers of the m'asterand test watch are in a given phase relationship.

- "ARTHUR. JAY AUBLE.

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